By Isaac Salima & Pemphero Malimba:
Malawians repatriated from South Africa on Monday protested over delays in receiving transport money, a situation that led to commotion at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium.
The returnees, who were being received at the stadium, expressed frustration after officials from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) reportedly took time to process transport allowances.
In protest, they damaged some structures, including a tent belonging to the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS).
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MRCS spokesperson Felix Washon confirmed that one of their staff members was nearly injured during the incident.
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“He was hit on the leg by a stray stone and was rushed to hospital where he was treated as an outpatient. Our tent was also damaged,” Washon said.
He said calm was later restored and services resumed as normal.
One of the returnees, Sarrif Jaffali, said they were unhappy with the delays and that they were exhausted after the journey from South Africa.
Dodma spokesperson Lucy Bandazi said she was yet to receive full details of the incident.
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The Malawian nationals were repatriated from South Africa following attacks targeting undocumented migrants.
They are received at designated centres where they undergo medical checks, are provided with food and later given transport money to return to their respective homes.
Meanwhile, efforts to repatriate Malawians from South Africa suffered a setback following a road accident in which a bus carrying returnees overturned near Musina in Limpopo Province.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the accident occurred on Tuesday when the bus was transporting Malawians from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal to Beitbridge.
Preliminary reports indicate that one person died while 11 others were injured and are receiving treatment at Musina Hospital.
“The ministry is in close engagement with officials from the Malawi Mission in Pretoria who are on the ground liaising with relevant South African authorities to verify identities and the number of Malawian nationals involved,” the statement said.
It added that the mission would facilitate consular assistance and coordinate possible repatriation arrangements in consultation with South African authorities.
Malawi and South Africa are currently implementing a repatriation exercise involving Malawians without legal documentation.
The exercise follows an unofficial June 30 2026 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa.
Department of Disaster Management Affairs Commissioner Wilson Moleni is quoted as saying that about 15,000 Malawians have so far been repatriated.
